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Deceit
Corrupt Prime Minister Andrew Gerrard has engaged in a covert agreement with the Indonesian president to begin building himself a retirement nest egg - if the Australian government agrees to fund immigration detention centres. When his plans are disrupted by a tragic plane accident that kills key members of parliament, Gerrard devises a strategy to rush the entire funding scheme through the parliament within a week. Political stalwart and soon-to-be-retired clerk of parliament, Gordon O'Brien, suspects a conspiracy to defraud the government, and reluctantly sets out to foil the prime minister's plan with the help of young-gun investigative journalist, Anita Devlin. The first part in the Democracy Trilogy sizzles with insider knowledge into the machinations of Australian politics. It's a brilliant and suspenseful political thriller where corruption, power and truth collide. - Deceit By Richard Evans (Paperback)
400 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Richard Evans
8 books5 followersIf you like fast-paced, page-turning thrillers then Richard Evans’ political thrillers will not disappoint you.
Richard served as a federal politician in the national parliament giving his books added authenticity. As an insider, Richard recognises the tribalism, warped egos, and the ruthless lonely life of a politician, writing thrilling character driven stories about this exotic, mysterious world.
Richard lives with views to the islands and the Coral Sea with his partner in the small village of Airlie Beach the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, Australia.
“As an indie writer, I’m a storyteller working to provide you, the reader, with an entertaining read that satisfies your curiosity about politics. Perhaps, my stories also give them something to think about. Most of all I would love for you to enjoy the read.
When I’m not procrastinating with a coffee, I’m a writer of political thrillers and enjoy a beer listening and telling stories.”
The Democracy Trilogy provides insight into the ruthless nature of politics and the politicians doing whatever it takes to get what they want in the suspenseful series.
The Referendum Series examines the social dilemmas within a community with the government seeking to hear from the population via referendum. Contemporary issues are examined, such as First Nation rights in Forgotten People, euthanasia in Kill Bill, and water rights in The Mallee. These gripping, character driven thrillers provide page-turning plots and surprising plot twists.
Jack Hudson MP is a 10 book series beginning with Horrible People and follows the power struggles and personal challenges of a novice member of parliament’s career seeking to reach the ultimate leadership role of Prime Minister.
I invite you to visit my website for more information and book offers https://www.richardevans-author.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 10, 2018
A refreshing political thriller with authentic insider knowledge.
A longer review appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.
A longer review appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.
July 11, 2018
Copy received from publisher for an honest review
I am in a bit of a political book mood lately, and I was attracted to Deceit as it is set in the federal parliament of Australia.
Written by a former politician, and using issues that are current in the Australian political environment, you do have to wonder how many of these kind of things do happen every day.
Corruption, lies, betrayal. There are very few characters that the reader can trust in this story. Shady dealings, backroom deals, blackmail. Gah, I had such a visceral reaction to this book, knowing that in part these things are going on without the punters knowing.
I adored Gordon O'Brien. Straight as an arrow amongst those who are only in things for themselves, I couldn't help but cheer him on as he was like a dog with a bone, searching out the truth.
Will he win out? Well, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.
This is the first book in The Democracy Series however it can be read as a standalone and there is no cliffhanger.
I look forward to seeing where this series takes us.
I am in a bit of a political book mood lately, and I was attracted to Deceit as it is set in the federal parliament of Australia.
Written by a former politician, and using issues that are current in the Australian political environment, you do have to wonder how many of these kind of things do happen every day.
Corruption, lies, betrayal. There are very few characters that the reader can trust in this story. Shady dealings, backroom deals, blackmail. Gah, I had such a visceral reaction to this book, knowing that in part these things are going on without the punters knowing.
I adored Gordon O'Brien. Straight as an arrow amongst those who are only in things for themselves, I couldn't help but cheer him on as he was like a dog with a bone, searching out the truth.
Will he win out? Well, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.
This is the first book in The Democracy Series however it can be read as a standalone and there is no cliffhanger.
I look forward to seeing where this series takes us.
August 24, 2020
This is an Australian style political thriller (no heavy-handed special forces or gun battles or car chases, just intrigue and suspense). It starts with a corrupt Australian prime minister planning to build a nest-egg by setting up an agreement with the Indonesian president to skim money from the funds Australia is paying Indonesia to build off-shore immigration detention centres. Will his deal be discovered before it's too late? Who can stop this attempted fraud?
The main characters are an opposition politician, a clerk of parliament and a journalist, each pursuing their own part of the story. The characters are real, the story is believable and the plot provides suspense, despite the reader knowing what the prime minister has planned.
It's well crafted and the first in the democracy trilogy (although I confess I have no idea how this would continue into book 2). It's an interesting and enjoyable read.
The main characters are an opposition politician, a clerk of parliament and a journalist, each pursuing their own part of the story. The characters are real, the story is believable and the plot provides suspense, despite the reader knowing what the prime minister has planned.
It's well crafted and the first in the democracy trilogy (although I confess I have no idea how this would continue into book 2). It's an interesting and enjoyable read.
January 11, 2019
What a great book! Well written with all political content relevant, it kept me reading till the very end.
July 19, 2018
I received a copy of Deceit from Simon & Schuster Australia to review.
Richard Evans’ first book, Deceit, is a five-star thriller that brings the Australian political process to life. Former politician Evans brings all of his insight and expertise to this new book, and readers will be astounded by the realistic descriptions of Australian politics and the way it has been utilised in this exciting and first-rate story. This is an outstanding debut from Evans, and this terrific read comes highly recommended.
When corrupt Australian Prime Minster Andrew Gerrard makes a deal with his Indonesian counterpart, he embarks on a plan to build up a retirement nest egg by passing a controversial funding bill for overseas detention centres over a period of several years. However, when key members of his party die in a tragic plane accident, Gerrard decides to process all of the funding in one go and receive the full amount of his payoff.
Click link for full review:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/07/19/...
An abridged version of this review ran in the Canberra Weekly on 19 July 2018:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/07/19/...
Or visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Richard Evans’ first book, Deceit, is a five-star thriller that brings the Australian political process to life. Former politician Evans brings all of his insight and expertise to this new book, and readers will be astounded by the realistic descriptions of Australian politics and the way it has been utilised in this exciting and first-rate story. This is an outstanding debut from Evans, and this terrific read comes highly recommended.
When corrupt Australian Prime Minster Andrew Gerrard makes a deal with his Indonesian counterpart, he embarks on a plan to build up a retirement nest egg by passing a controversial funding bill for overseas detention centres over a period of several years. However, when key members of his party die in a tragic plane accident, Gerrard decides to process all of the funding in one go and receive the full amount of his payoff.
Click link for full review:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/07/19/...
An abridged version of this review ran in the Canberra Weekly on 19 July 2018:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/07/19/...
Or visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
February 25, 2024
The deal is done but the lies do not stop.
From the 4 billion dollars for the off-shore detention centre – that’s 10 to the 12th, Americans, not 10 to the 9th – the President of Indonesia has skimmed 40 million off the top to give to the Prime Minister of Australia.
‘You worry far too much. These things happen all the time in my country.’
It’s better than the pension but he’s got to retire before the next election for the nefarious scheme to work because eight of his ministers have died in a plane crash and he’s going to lose without them.
So, while his wife is off to Zurich to open a Swiss bank account, the Prime Minister whiles away his lonely hours by having an affair with the Speaker of the House of Reps who happens to be Aboriginal.
‘Is there any chance you can come to my suite after question time? I feel a little aroused and I need you.’
For his swansong, the corrupt PM then rips the Opposition to shreds for even daring to do a better job of running the country than he has.
Ha, ha, ha! What a funny book!
(BTW Did Richard Evans deliberately kill off Bronwyn Bishop? The 'trademark bouffant' sounds awfully like her.)
From the 4 billion dollars for the off-shore detention centre – that’s 10 to the 12th, Americans, not 10 to the 9th – the President of Indonesia has skimmed 40 million off the top to give to the Prime Minister of Australia.
‘You worry far too much. These things happen all the time in my country.’
It’s better than the pension but he’s got to retire before the next election for the nefarious scheme to work because eight of his ministers have died in a plane crash and he’s going to lose without them.
So, while his wife is off to Zurich to open a Swiss bank account, the Prime Minister whiles away his lonely hours by having an affair with the Speaker of the House of Reps who happens to be Aboriginal.
‘Is there any chance you can come to my suite after question time? I feel a little aroused and I need you.’
For his swansong, the corrupt PM then rips the Opposition to shreds for even daring to do a better job of running the country than he has.
Ha, ha, ha! What a funny book!
(BTW Did Richard Evans deliberately kill off Bronwyn Bishop? The 'trademark bouffant' sounds awfully like her.)
January 24, 2023
This political thriller had me hooked. Sadly, it is all too believable that something like this could happen in Australian politics. The machinations of politicians is beautifully told by Richard Evans, and the way the press and the public are involved is also artfully done. The character who impressed me the most was Gordon O'Brien, and I hope there are people of his integrity in Canberra. The best thing about this is that it is a trilogy, so I am looking forward to the next book. Thank you to Book funnel for my e copy of this book.
June 29, 2025
I enjoyed this.
it's great to see such good Australian Political Fiction.
Interesting....
it's great to see such good Australian Political Fiction.
Interesting....
September 1, 2018
Loved stepping inside the corridors of Parliament, the wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes. Given the recent political upheavals, Richard Evans first book in the Democracy trilogy was compelling. There is the usual cast of players, any of them after the fame and glory that accompanies power. But it is not all political point-scoring and illicit liasons, there are those who fight 'the good fight' and risk all to uphold the principles of the parliament.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews